Adoption Procedures

Application

When you have selected the pet you wish to adopt, you will be asked to fill out
an application. The application will give us information about your past experience
with pets, the type of pet you’re looking for and also your expectations of the
new pet. The purpose of the application is not to exclude you from adopting. It
is simply a tool that helps us to better educate our clients and meet the needs
of the animals in our care.

All applications are reviewed by our shelter staff. The process can take anywhere
from a few minutes to a few days, depending on the volume of applications and the
information we may still need from applicants.

Some things to bring with you to streamline the application process:

Current rabies vaccnation information for all current pets

Knowledge, if you rent your housing, that your landlord allows pets and that you
can afford the pet deposit, if one exists

Your driver's license number

Emergency contact information

Your vet's name and phone number, if you have a regular vet or don't have your pets'
vaccination records readily available

Consultation

The decision to adopt an animal is not to be taken lightly. We want to ensure a
happy transition for you and your new pet. When the application is completed our
customer service staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding
the adoption process. Your new pet will be going through a major, and possibly stressful,
change when transitioning to life in your home. Our staff and volunteers are happy
to assist you by sharing their experience and training.

Spay/Neuter Requirement

Every hour, 2,000 dogs and 3,500 cats are born in the United States. Most of them
unwanted. In the US, Approximately 5 million animals are euthanized in shelters
each year. In order to reduce those numbers it is crucial that all companion animals
be spayed or neutered. By spaying or neutering our pets we can help bring an end
to this national tragedy. All dogs and cats adopted from Forsyth County Animal Shelter
will be spayed or neutered prior to adoption.

If the dog or cat you adopt is already spayed or neutered, he/she can go home with
you the same date of your adoption. If the dog or cat you adopt is not already spayed
or neutered, he/she will be picked up by one of our contracted veterinarians on
the business day following your adoption. That vet will perform the alteration surgery
in the morning, and your new pet will be available to pick up from the vet in the
afternoon to allow a few hours recovery time.

Follow-Up Veterinary Care

It is also to important to have your dog tested for heartworms at a time recommended
by your veterinarian. Dogs over the age of 6 months have been tested prior to adoption.
Due to the incubation period of the disease this is highly recommended to insure
the health of your new companion.

Cats and kittens (when applicable) are screened for Feline Leukemia a Feline Immunodeficiency Virus prior to adoption.
We recommend a follow-up test at your veterinarian’s discretion.

Having your veterinarian do a fecal examination on both cats and dogs is also recommended.
Your pet has received an initial deworming prior to adoption. Due to the growth
cycle of certain parasites, the initial deworming may not remove all parasites your
pet may have.

The Cost and What it Includes

Adoption fees for Dogs/Puppies are a differential rate to encourage the adoption
of older animals. For example, the fee for a dog under 3 years of age would be $117.00
and a 4 year old dog $97.00. The adoption includes:

Initial medical exam

Initial deworming

Initial heartworm screening (when applicable)

Parvo - Distemper vaccination

Rabies vaccination and tag

Microchip ID and registration

Mandatory spay or neuter

Forsyth County license

The fees for pets that are already spayed/neutered are reduced significantly.

Adoption fees for Cats/Kittens are a differential rate to encourage the adoption
of older animals. For example, the fee for a cat under 3 years of age would be $97.00
and a 4 year old cat $81.00. The adoption includes:

Initial medical exam

Initial FeLV/FTV screening (when applicable)

Initial deworming

FVRCP vaccination

Rabies vaccination and tag

Microchip ID and registration

Mandatory spay or neuter

Forsyth County license

The fees for pets that are already spayed/neutered are reduced significantly.